Found

Christmas Luke 2:41-52 (I Sam 2:18-20,26)

The tradition was to go as a family to worship.  In those days gone by, it was a big event; loading up the family with all that was needed to make the trip to the sanctuary, hoping all would make it safe, some special candy to reward and to keep mouths busy, no arguments along the way, no misbehavior by anyone, no embarrassments, and all would have an idyllic family affair.  Reality is that there are always the possibilities of the unexpected; bad roads, bad weather, some irritability, wrong turn, something forgotten, or someone’s behavior that ruins the best laid plans.  Getting all to the worship place with open and generous spirits to give and receive what is there seems near impossible.

Pre-adolescents and teenagers rarely desire closeness with parents and family events.  They long for independence; for distance.  They don’t want to be found hanging around parents, or with parents hanging around them.  They want to be found in places and with people where life is ‘happenin’.  Perhaps this has been true throughout the ages of human existence.  Perhaps more so today, when community and family activity is diminishing, young people find no reason to be with their family in the context of worship, in a sanctuary, or paying attention to that ‘God’ stuff.  Perhaps it is not just the youth for whom this is reality.  Perhaps it is more prevalent with all people than we dare to day.  Who wants to be found sitting in old, religious spaces where there is so much unknown and too many questions?  Who wants to be known as overly spiritual?

So Mary and Joseph assumed that Jesus’ absence was normal.  He was probably with cousins and friends, hanging out with his peers.  When his absence lengthened and was no longer “normal”, like typical parents they became anxious, searching in typical places one looks for kids.  They did not expect to discovered him with adults, asking questions and giving his own perspective in the worship space.  Naturally, they were annoyed.  They had been inconvenienced.  A child absorbed in his own world had upset the family agenda.  One would be reasonable to imagine Mary and Joseph on an emotional roller coaster from anxious worry,  little panicky, to surprise, anger, and amazement.  Parental feelings are like that, mixed confusion in response to the children they cherish and who can be so irresponsible at the same time.

“Child!  Why have you treated us like this?”  Sounds like a typical parental question.  “Why were you searching for me?  Didn’t you know….”  A typical youth’s response.  ‘Parents don’t know anything.  You should have known.  Can’t you figure it out?’  But like typical parents, Mary and Joseph did not understand what their son was talking about.  A typical family scenario.  Kids assume their parents’ knowledge, and, they assume their parents’ ignorance.  Jesus was fully human, fully youthful, and learning and growing.  After rejoining his parents and heading home, scripture says Jesus “was obedient” to his parents.  He learned, parents need to know where you are, where to find you.

Jesus was a normal kid.  So was Samuel.  Centuries before there was a temple in Jerusalem, there was the town of Shiloh, where Eli the priest greeting people who came to worship the Lord and to bring their sacrifices and offerings.  Hannah, the mother of Samuel was much like Mary, both having sons who grew up in the Lord’s service.  Samuel, like Jesus was a young boy who was found in the worship place, asking questions, learning from the elders and teaching the elders even in youth.

Of Jesus the gospel writer says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in divine and human favor.” (Luke 2:52)  Of Samuel it is written, “Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.”  (I Sam 2:26)  Both young men grew up listening; listening to their teachers, listening to parents, listening for the voice of God that would speak to them in the night and in their hearts.  And yes, they were normal, typical kids.

We would like to make Samuel ‘special’, because he was a prophet, a mouth piece, of the Lord.  We would like to make Jesus ‘special’ because we call him God incarnate.  In designating them ‘special’ we also subtly exclude ourselves from their special callings.  We think both we and our children are normal, human, and not subject to the ‘special’ call of God, that we should be listening as Samuel and Jesus did.  Ah, but we are wrong.  We also are called by God, given life through the Source of Life, implanted with the very image of God within us, and for those who have been baptized, our very baptism is the naming and claiming that we are not our own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to God.  We are special also.  Perhaps the only difference from our being drawn to listen to God is that we have excused ourselves from it.  Samuel and Jesus grew up being told they were special, and committed to God.  Too often we are not told, nor do we instill in our children that their lives are gifts from and to God, infused with the Holy One.  Attentiveness to God is a hobby for older people or ‘special’ people.  We fail to tune our hearts and ears to hear God speaking.

Jesus and Samuel were found in the place of worship.  They were found where in their day, God resided.  Jesus thought it ‘normal’ to be in “his Father’s house”, already having learned and embraced a deep relationship to God.  Of course, he assumed Mary and Joseph would know where to find him, with God, in God’s presence.  Hannah would find her son, Samuel, who served the Lord night and day, growing up in God’s presence.  That’s where I want to be found, in the presence of God.  That’s where I want to find my children; conscious of always being in God’s presence and in living out the call of God upon them.  What might life be like to have such awareness that we are special, called by and to God; that we are always in God’s presence?  What might it be like if all were attentive enough to wonder, to ask questions, to be listening?

Jesus and Samuel grew up normal, typical, and special, just like us.  Scripture says they grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with both God and with people.  What a wonderful way to grow.  Might that be our own prayer, for ourselves, for our children, for the world, that we might continue to grow.  One can only guess that growing in wisdom takes listening, insight, patience and sensitivity, not just knowledge.  Growing ‘in favor’, in approval or in affection takes listening, obedience, and love for God and love for people.  Oh to so grow up so we may be found like them.

 Holy God,
you seek and you find,
always looking for us even though
we go our own way.
Thank you for knowing where we are.
Spirit of Wisdom come,
fill us with your breath,
with your listening,
with your life,
that we might be found in you.
Come, Spirit of Christ,
help us grow up and
be found fully in the Holy Presence
which is everywhere.